A small but mighty field lines up this weekend in the USEF National Open Horse Trial Championship for the Jack Le Goff Trophy to vie for the first eventing National Title of the autumn. Run in conjunction with the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships presented by VTO Saddlery, national championship competition will run September 26-28, 2013, at the Texas Rose Horse Park in Tyler, Texas. Twelve elite combinations are set to kick off competition, which is run at the Advanced level, in the dressage phase on Thursday.

So-called “distracted driving” laws prohibiting cell phone use while driving are being enacted around the nation, and now it is time for the equine community to take notice, says one equine safety professional.

“It’s important for riders to remember that the horse can be an unpredictable animal,” notes Wayne G. Hipsley, chairman of HorseSafetyUSA.com. “If the rider is distracted by using his or her cell phone, and the horse reacts to something in its environment, serious injuries may be the result.” Riding a horse is like operating a vehicle, distractions can be the cause of serious injuries, and it is well documented the cell phone is a distraction while operating a car and truck.

The Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF), an international research foundation, welcomed Pam Milner, founding partner of Spirit Program, an equine assisted learning and psychotherapy (EALP) center in Middleburg, VA, as its newest board member. Ms. Milner is also a founding partner of Spirit Serving Veterans, a program that specifically focuses on providing equine services for military veterans and their families.

In front of a sellout event the 16th annual New Albany Classic Invitational Grand Prix & Family Day presented by JPMorgan Chase & Co. proved to be a nail biter as 31 horse and rider combinations vied for the $125,000 purse and the Authentic Cup on the John G. McCoy Show Field. Named by the North American Riders Group as the #1 Specialty Equestrian Event in 2012, The Classic drew more than 20,000 people and raised over $1.7 million to support the work of The Center for Family Safety and Healing, an organization supporting family violence initiatives founded by Abigail Wexner, the host of The Classic in New Albany, Ohio.

Historic flooding across Colorado has destroyed thousands of homes and farms. Thousands of horses have been displaced or are stranded across 4,500 square-miles of flood-ravaged terrain. This area is densely populated with horses, including many large breeding and training facilities all along the Front Range. Hay and feed are being airlifted to hundreds of stranded farm owners and delivered to hundreds more in dire need of feed for their horses. Recovery from a disaster of this magnitude will be arduous and ongoing, but not impossible. We need to remember that when the flooding stops, the recovery is only beginning. In times like these, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) calls on you to aid fellow horse owners by donating to the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund.